Ladder platform



June 5, 1956 2 Shee't.s--Shee1- 1 Filed March 4, 1955 Q N 2/ m m 6 I W- y fiW w M mm I l 2 A F Y W 2 a H .Al. 3 M M June 5, 1956 H. A. WILSON 2,749,008

LADDER PLATFORM Filed March 4, 1955 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Fla-4 INVENTOR. HARRY A. WILSON WZEWZW W v Umz'ahm ATTO 2n EYS United States Patent C) I LADDER PLATFORM Harry A. Wilson, Charlton City, Mass. Application March 4, 1955, Serial No. 492,221

2 Claims. (Cl. 228-17) This invention relates to ladder devices, and more particularly to an improved combination ladder and platform for holding tools, paint buckets, or similar articles in a convenient position for use in building or repair work, or for other similar purposes.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination ladder and supporting platform, said combination ladder and platform being simple in construction, being foldable to a compact size, and being easy to set up for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved foldable ladder support, said support being inexpensive to manufacture, being light in weight, being durable in construction, and being safe to use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved foldable ladder support constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the ladder support of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the ladder support of Figure 1 in folded position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational detail view of the upper portion of the folded ladder support of Figure 4, a portion thereof being broken away to show structural details.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational detail view taken on the line 77 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 88 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the improved foldable ladder support is designated generally at 11 and comprises a main ladder portion having the side bars 12, 12 between which are secured the spaced rungs 13. The rungs or steps 13 are formed on their under sides with the parallel longitudinal grooves 14 which receive the upper portions of parallel tie bars 15, 15, said tie bars extending through the respective side bars 12, 12 and being provided on their ends with the fastening nuts 16, as shown in Figure 8. The ends of the rungs 13 are received in respective recesses 17 provided in the side bars 12, as shown in Figure 8, whereby the steps or rungs 13 are held in interlocked relationship with their associated tie bars 15, and are thus rigidly secured between the side bars 12, 12.

Designated at 18 is a platform element which is rigidly secured to the top ends of the side bars 12, 12, the platform element 18 being parallel to the steps or rungs 13, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. The outer edge of the platform element 18 is formed with the spaced arcuate notches 19, 19, serving as receiving means for portions of the users legs when the user is supported on one of the rungs or steps 13.

Designated at 20 is an auxiliary platform element which is secured on a pair of auxiliary side bar elements 21, 21, saidside bar elements 21 being hingedly connected to the top portions of the side bar elements 12 by hinge brackets 22, 22 of angular shape, as shown in Figure 1. In Figure l the lower end of each bracket 22 is pivotally connected at 23 to a respective side bar 12 and the upper portion is rigidly connected at 24, 24 to the associated auxiliary side bar element 21. Thus, the auxiliary platform element 20 and its associated side bars 21, 21 are swingable from an outwardly extending position, such as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to a folded position, shown in Figures 4, wherein the auxiliary platform 20 is arranged parallel to the side bars 12, 12.

Pivotally connected at 25 to each side bar 12 is a channeled strut member 26, said strut member having the notches 27 and 28 in its top and bottom portions, providing clearance respectively for the sidebars l2 and auxiliary. side bars 21 when the strut members are in their operative positions, shown in Figures 1 and 3. The lower ends of the strut members are pivotally connected to the associated side bars 12 by transverse bolts 29. The upper ends of the strut members are detachably connectible to the associated auxiliary side bars 21 by removable transverse pin members 30 which may be engaged through apertures provided in the top lug portions 31 of the strut members and the intervening side bars 21.

The pin members 30 are connected to the associated auxiliary side bars 21 by respective chains 32, to prevent loss of the pin members when the pin members are removed.

As shown in Figure 4, when the ladder support is in its folded position, the channeled strut members 26 receive the adjacent edges of the side bars 12, and the auxiliary side bars 21 are disposed adjacent to and substantially in contact with the channeled strut members 26.

The free end portions of the auxiliary side bars 21 are formed with respective rectangular notches 33. Designated at 34 is a transversely extending cross bar which has notched portions 35, 35 lockingly interengageable with the notches 33 of the side bars 21, whereby the cross bar 34 may be interlocked with the ends of the auxiliary side bars 21 in a manner shown in Figures 5 and 6. Pivotally secured at 37 to the end of each auxiliary cross bar 21 adjacent the notch 33 therein is a latch bar 38, said latch bar being formed at its free end portion with a notch 39 lockingly engageable with a headed locking screw or stud 40 provided on the end of the side bar 21 opposite the pivotal connection 37, whereby the latch bar 38 may be lockingly engaged across the notch 33 to retain the cross bar 34 therein.

The intermediate portion of each latch member 38 is offset outwardly and is provided with a resilient deformable sleeve member 41 of rubber, or the like, defining a resilient deformable cushioning element engageable with the surface against which the device is to be supported, such as a vertical wall 42, or the like. The resilient deformable cushioning elements 41 prevent marring or scratching of such a supporting surface when the device is set up thereagainst in the manner shown in Figure l.

The ladder support is readily set up for use by rotating the auxiliary platform 20 to the outwardly extending position of Figure l and then fastening the strut members 26 in position by inserting the pin members 30 through the apertures in the top portions of the strut members and registering apertures provided in the side bars 21, as above described. The device may then be positioned against the supporting surface, such as the vertical wall 42, whereby the device will be usable to support the person employing same and to support objects such as tools, paint buckets, or the like in a convenient position for use.

When not in use, the device may be folded to the position shown in Figures 4 and 5, whereby it may be easily stored or transported.

The cross bar 34 projects a substantial distance outwardly from the side bars 12, 12, said cross bar being substantially greater in length than the platform 18, whereby the cross bar may be engaged against vertical support elements which are separated, such as the side frame elements of a window, spaced studs, or the like, which are spaced too far apart to be engaged directly by the ends of the auxiliary side bars 21, 21. When use of the transverse cross bar 34 is not required, said transverse cross bar may be readily removed by unfastening the latch element 38 and removing the cross bar 34 from the. notch'es 33.

While a specific embodiment of an-improved ladder. sup port has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various, modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilledin the art. Therefore, it is intended' that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A foldable ladder support comprising a pair of side bars, spaced rungs secured between said side bars, a platform element secured to the top ends of said. side bars, a swingable platform hinged to the top portions of. said side bars and being swingable to an outwardly extending position flush with said platform element, a detachable strut member connecting said swingable platformto said side bars in said outwardly extending position, said swingable platform having transversely aligned notched end portions, a transversely extending crossbar engaged in said notched end portions, said crossbar projecting outwardly a substantial distance from each side of said swingable platform, and respective retaining members pivoted to said notched end portions adjacent saidcrossbar and being movable into retaining positions transversely overlying said crossbar.

2. A foldable ladder support comprising a pair of side bars, spaced rungs secured between said side bars, a platform element secured to the top ends of said side bars, a swingable platform hinged to the top portions of said side bars and being swingable to an outwardly extending position flush with said platform element, a detachable strut member connecting said swingable platform to said, side bars in said outwardly extending position, said swingable platform having transversely aligncdnotched end portions, a transversely extendingcross bar engaged in said notched end portions, said cross bar projecting outwardly a substantial distance from each side of said swingable platform, respective retaining members pivoted to said notched end portions adjacent said cross .bar and being movable into retaining positions transversely overlying said cross bar, and resilient deformable cushioning elements on the outer portions of said retaining members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 215,712 Andrews May27, 1879 301,110 Gartrell July 1, 1884 910,639 Burns Jan. 26, 1909 2,553,322 Kurmer May 15, 1951 2,680,554 Dakin June 8, 1954 2,692,176 Miller Oct. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 655,212 Germany Jan. 11, 1938 

